7 Fun Ways to Keep Fit in London

Combine Fun, Fitness And Fresh Air in London

Get fit the fun way by considering one of these alternative activities in London. From dancing in an adult ball pit to scaling the iconic O2, we've rounded up 7 of the city's quirkiest ways to raise the heart rate.

01 of 07

Climb up And Over The O2

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Scale the iconic O2 on an urban climbing adventure and tone your leg muscles as you take in 360 degree views of London. The experience has been developed by the original designers of The O2 and lasts around 90 minutes. You'll be kitted out with a climbing suit and a harness and climb across the O2's webbed roof which hovers 52 meters above ground. Up at the viewing platform you'll be able to see London landmarks like Canary Wharf, the Tower of London, the Olympic Park and the Shard.

How to get there: The nearest tube station is North Greenwich on the Jubilee Line.

02 of 07

Dance in an Adult Ball Pool in East London

Ballie Ballerson

Head east to channel your inner child in a huge ball pit filled with 250,000 clear balls underlit by an LED dance floor. The GlowyMcGlow club night takes place in an adult play pen set over two floors in Dalston. The upstairs bar features glow in the dark murals and a DJ while downstairs you'll find a mirror-lined ball pit atop a floor that pulsates in time to the music. The bar serves cocktails named after planets.

How to get there: The nearest tube station is Dalston Kingsland on the London Overground.

03 of 07

Bounce Around in a Warehouse Full of Trampolines

Oxygen Freejumping

Work up a sweat by bouncing around on trampolines in a warehouse in west London. Oxygen Freejumping in Acton features 150 interconnected trampolines, a dodgeball court and a fun foam pit. Join an intensive fitness class or pick up skills and tricks at the School of Trampolining. There are plenty of freejumping sessions throughout the week that let you jump around at your leisure. There's also a center down in Croydon, south of London.

How to get there: The nearest tube station is West Acton on the Central Line.

04 of 07

Swim Laps in The 2012 Olympic Pool

Queen Elizabeth Park

Swim like a champ at the London Aquatics Centre, a striking indoor pool complex that was used for all swimming and diving events during the 2012 London Olympics. Designed by the late British architect, Zaha Hadid, this architectural gem is located within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and features two 50 meter-long pools and a 25 meter-long diving pool. It's run as a public leisure centre which keeps the price of swimming sessions low.

How to get there: The nearest tube station is Stratford on the Jubilee and Central Lines, the DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail.

Continue to 5 of 7 below.

05 of 07

Climb to The Top of The Monument

Pawel Libera/London and Partners

Climbing stairs burns around 7 times more calories than taking the lift (elevator) so you can expect to feel the burn when scaling all 311 steps at the Monument, a towering structure that commemorates the Great Fire of London. The Monument is located on the north side of the Thames, opposite London Bridge station and was built between 1671 and 1677 from designs by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke. At the top, you'll be rewarded with 360-degree panoramic views that take in Tower Bridge, Westminster and St Paul's Cathedral. You'll also be rewarded with a certificate to celebrate your stair-climbing achievements.

How to get there: The nearest tube station is Monument on the District and Circle Lines.

06 of 07

Kayak Along The Thames

Kayaking London

Work on your biceps and see London from a different perspective by taking to the water in a kayak. A 2-hour guided tour on the river Thames takes in sights like the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Albert Bridge. All tours are planned around the river tides to ensure you set off in the best conditions. There's also a 4-hour tour from Chelsea to Tower Bridge and a night tour available between September and April.

How to get there: You'll depart from Cremorne Riverside Centre in Chelsea. The nearest tube is Imperial Wharf Overground.

07 of 07

Rave With Glowsticks in Covent Garden

GymBox

Gymbox in Covent Garden is one of London's coolest gyms. In addition to state-of-the-art cardio and resistance equipment you'll find quirky extras like an Olympic-sized boxing ring, laser-lit dance studios and resident DJs. The fun classes range from rave dance sessions (complete with light shows and glow sticks) to circus-inspired fitness. There are also branches in Holborn, Bank, Farringdon, Victoria, Old Street and the Westfield shopping centers in Stratford and Shepherd's Bush.

How to get there: The nearest tube station to Gymbox is Leicester Square on the Northern and Piccadilly Lines.